PRESBYTERIAN C.O.’S

Hokitika Guardian, 11 October 1929, Page 1

PRESBYTERIAN C.O.’S

CONGREGATION VERSUS PRESBYTERY. (By Telegraph—Press Association). STRATFORD, Oct. 9. Some time ago, when Presbyterians throughout New Zealand were passing resolutions regarding the cases of Richards and Miller, two students for the Presbyterian ministry who took a very definite stand as regards the military training demanded of them, the session of St, Andrew’s Church, Stratford, passed a resolution taking a view opposed to the Presbytery resolutions, and this was telegraphed throughout New Zealand. The matter was referred to at the August meeting of the Taranaki Presbytery, and it was decided to inform the session that the publication of the resolution constituted a grave breach of church law.

At yesterday’s meeting of the Presbytery a letter was received from the St. Andrew’s session stating that Mr Percy Thomson, a member ot the Presbytery, held himself responsible for the publication, which had been made deliberately as a protest against the action of various presbyteries in passing motions regarding the case of Richards and Miller as representing the opinion of the Presbyterians of New Zealand without first submitting the matter to the laymen of the Church. In view of the decisions of several magistrates, it was considered that the resolutions of the presbyteries encouraged the youths of New Zealand to flout the law and brought the magistracy into contempt. The session desired to he informed of the authority for the claim that the publication of the session’s resolution was a breach of Church law. The clerk of the presbytery was instructed to quote the authority of the session.